A wave of bomb threats targeting broadcasters, airports and commercial flights across Europe on Friday prompted evacuations, security checks and fighter-jet deployments, triggering heightened security measures in several countries.
Presenters and staff left RTÉ’s Donnybrook headquarters in Dublin as police officers searched the premises with sniffer dogs.
The broadcaster switched to pre-recorded programming as a precaution, while its Today programme on Radio 1 continued broadcasting from an outside broadcasting vehicle.
Mediahuis Ireland and Independent News and Media also temporarily evacuated their offices on Dublin’s Talbot Street.
Virgin Media also received a threat but did not evacuate its premises and remained on air.
Irish police said they were “aware of a threat made against media organizations here and in Europe.”
Prime Minister Micheál Martin described the threats as “worrying,” saying the government was taking the matter seriously.
He vowed that the government would “go after this,” adding that police and the Defence Forces were working to identify those behind the threats.
Danish airport undergoes security checks
In Denmark, police conducted security checks at Copenhagen Airport following new threats against aircraft.
Police said their presence at the airport was a precaution, noting that their assessment indicated no danger to passengers or other airport users.
The precise targets of Friday’s threats were unclear.
On Thursday, a military bomb disposal unit searched two aircraft at the airport.
France reports bomb threats against four aircraft
The office of the French prime minister said four aircraft received bomb threats while flying over French territory on Friday and landed safely.
It added that bomb disposal teams were conducting security inspections of the aircraft as an investigation was launched to determine the origin of the threats.
On Thursday, an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to Évreux air base in northern France following a bomb threat.
Czech police investigate threats against nine aircraft
In the Czech Republic, police investigated threats against nine aircraft after anonymous messages alleged that explosive devices had been placed aboard planes flying to and from Prague Airport on Friday.
According to Prague Airport spokeswoman Denisa Hejtmánková, the threats concerned four arriving flights and five departures.
All nine aircraft were reportedly on the ground and underwent police inspections.
Meanwhile, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that a Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice following a bomb threat.
Hungary scrambles fighter jets to monitor three civilian flights
Reported bomb threats also prompted Hungary to scramble fighter jets three times on Friday morning to monitor civilian flights in Hungarian airspace, Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said on Facebook.
According to the minister, the first threat targeted a Wizz Air flight from Brussels to Sofia, while two others concerned flights from Prague to Cyprus and Bucharest.
A Bulgarian Transport Ministry spokesperson said alerts had been received for two flights bound for Sofia. Both flights, one arriving from London Stansted Airport in Britain and the other from Brussels, landed safely.
Hoax bomb threats reported in Portugal
In Portugal, two Ryanair flights operating between Rome and Lisbon were targeted by bomb threats on Friday.
The first threat concerned flight FR8196 from Rome to Lisbon, while another was reported against flight FR8197, which was scheduled to make the return journey from Lisbon to Rome.
Portuguese police said security checks on the aircraft found no explosive devices or suspicious objects.
The authorities will now try to determine “the origin and circumstances of the threat,” Portuguese public broadcaster RTP reported.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, police received the security alert through “a phone call from a law enforcement officer.”
Flights, airports and media organizations in several European countries have been evacuated and undergone security inspections after receiving bomb threats.
In Ireland, the premises of public broadcaster RTÉ and several other media organizations were evacuated after a threatening email was sent to broadcasters and news outlets in Ireland and the UK on Friday.
Presenters and staff left RTÉ's Donnybrook headquarters in Dublin, as police officers searched the premises with sniffer dogs.
The broadcaster switched to pre-recorded programming as a precautionary measure, while its Today program on Radio 1 continued broadcasting from an outside broadcasting vehicle.
Mediahuis Ireland and Independent News Media also temporarily evacuated their offices on Dublin’s Talbot Street as a precaution.
Virgin Media also received the threat but did not evacuate its premises and remained on air.
Irish police said they were “aware of a threat made against media organizations here and in Europe.”
Prime Minister Micheal Martin described the threats as “worrying”, saying the government was taking the matter seriously.
He vowed that the government would “go after this”, adding that police and the defense forces were working to identify those behind the threats.
Danish airport undergoes security checks
In Denmark, police conducted security checks at Copenhagen Airport following new threats against air traffic.
Police said their presence there was a precaution, noting that their assessment indicated no danger to passengers or other airport users.
It was unclear what the precise targets of Friday's threats are.
On Thursday, a military bomb disposal unit searched two planes at the airport.
France reports bomb threats against four aircraft
The office of France's Prime Minister said four aircraft landed safely after receiving bomb threats while flying over French territory on Friday.
The office added that bomb disposal teams conducted security inspections of the aircraft, as an investigation is underway to determine the origin of the threats.
On Thursday, an Airbus A320 traveling from Dublin to Italy’s Rome was diverted to Evreux air base in northern France following a bomb threat.
Czech police investigating nine aircraft
In the Czech Republic, police investigated nine aircraft following anonymous threats alleging explosive devices had been placed aboard several aircraft flying to and from Prague Airport on Friday.
According to the airport spokeswoman Denisa Hejtmankova, the threats concerned four arrivals and five departures.
All nine aircraft were reportedly on the ground and underwent police inspections.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Ansa news agency reported that a WizzAir flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice following a bomb threat.
Hungary scrambles warplanes to monitor three civilian flights
Reported bomb threats also prompted Hungary’s fighter jets to escort civilian flights in Hungarian airspace three times on Friday morning, defense minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said on Facebook.
According to the minister, the threats were issued against a WizzAir flight from Brussels to Bulgaria’s Sofia, and two more for flights from Prague to Cyprus and Bucharest.
A Bulgarian transport ministry spokesperson said alerts were received for two flights to Sofia, and that both flights coming in from London Stansted Airport in Britain and from Brussels landed safely.
Hoax bomb threat reported in Portugal
In Portugal, the inbound FR8196 flight and the reverse leg from Lisbon to Rome were hit by bomb threats.
The Portuguese police said that the Lisbon report turned out to be a hoax.
The authorities will now try to determine “the origin and circumstances of the threat,” Portuguese public broadcaster RTP reported.
According to Italian news agency Ansa, the security alert was received by police via “a phone call from a law enforcement officer.”
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